The RP Stimulus Package

I thought this might be good to bring back up. Original article here from my site, RP Made Simple: http://rpmadesimple.com/fyrp/the-rp-stimulus-package/

The RP Stimulus Package

You hear a lot of folks say there’s not enough RP going on. The talk of this or that server is “dying” due to lack of RP. You read it on your realm forums, the RP forums and in-game. The “Un-role-playing Rate” is up, and there’s “layoffs” in the RP Community.

Pretty much it’s kinda like a “RP Recession”, yes? …or is it?

Role-playing is a group social activity we do – whether it’s around a table slinging dice or in an mmorpg. Without others, there’s not much to do, right? That is where the “RP Stimulus Package” comes in – to help not only you but your RP Community as well. A collection of some things to keep in mind and in perspective while role-playing.

It also benefits in how we treat others too – being a social activity, it kinda goes hand in hand. In the end, we are all people and we roleplay to have fun.

Many role-players want a “RP Buffet” of sorts – most RP servers are not and cannot be hot and cold running role-play 24/7. Others still want events and role-playing, but really never look, spark or think about how they can add to the role-playing of their server.

Granted, some players do not have time – and that is understandable. Just do your best with the time and opportunity you have. There’s some neat ideas and thoughts ahead that might help.

With that in mind, here’s the RP Stimulus Package:

Be “fearless” (but don’t be a jerk) in public areas when roleplaying.

Role-play where you are and as you can.

Inspire/foster role-playing both in the game and out.

Be a good example when RPing. Role-players AND Non-roleplayers do notice. You never know!

Get into your realm’s RP Community. Who are the “RP Community” anyway? That’s YOU and your fellow RPers out there.

Be a positive influence in your RP Community when you can.

Help and attend events if you are able to. If you cannot go, spread the word!

Try to help keep the RP immersion of the realm when able.

Support efforts by others wishing to help others RP.

Be supportive of new roleplayers.

Be kind, respectful and helpful to other roleplayers in your RP community.

Be kind, respectful and helpful to non-roleplayers, you never know when one of them may want to try to RP.

Stay away from being elitist or egotistical in talking to other roleplayers. There is a difference between being knowledgeable and being a jerk.

Be in character, even if you think no one’s watching. You may be surprised who is.

Remember when you started out and give fellow roleplayers some slack before playing the “YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!” card.

Remember that it’s not just about YOU. Share the stage.

Make connections both ICly and OOCly. More connections = more potential RP opportunites.

Understand it is ok to make a mistake, we all do it at some point.

Be open to explaining or helping others learn about roleplaying. If you don’t know an answer, nicely point them to someone or a site that can help.

Think before we “judge” or be a jerk to other players.

Spread the word about sites, forums, events and people that can help the RP community. If you won’t tell someone, who will?

Be flexible in your role-playing, there will be times when you may have to retcon or fudge things.

Respect the way other people roleplay. There’s no perfectly RIGHT way.

Remember that just because you may not see role-playing, it doesn’t mean no one is doing it.

Remember that your realm’s population will ebb and flow during the year (holidays, school, summer vacations, etc.)

Remember that the pixels have people behind them. And feelings too.

Roleplay outward and inward. Be out in the field where you are and allow others to enter roleplaying if it’s possible – bring people into your RP when you can.

Before putting a condemned sign on your realm, see what you can do to help revive RP. You never know unless you look, and in some cases – try.

Look for the RP, don’t wait for it to find you.

Don’t see any RP, make it! Random RP can work.

No events on your realm? Start one! You never know.

Remember that RP starts where YOU are.

Never give up.

And yeah, this is not a definitive list by any means – but it’s a bunch of helpful ideas to help bear out the storm when times RP-wise look bleak.

I thought this might be good to bring back up. Original article here from my site, RP Made Simple: http://rpmadesimple.com/fyrp/the-rp-stimulus-package/

The RP Stimulus Package

You hear a lot of folks say there’s not enough RP going on. The talk of this or that server is “dying” due to lack of RP. You read it on your realm forums, the RP forums and in-game. The “Un-role-playing Rate” is up, and there’s “layoffs” in the RP Community.

Pretty much it’s kinda like a “RP Recession”, yes? …or is it?

Role-playing is a group social activity we do – whether it’s around a table slinging dice or in an mmorpg. Without others, there’s not much to do, right? That is where the “RP Stimulus Package” comes in – to help not only you but your RP Community as well. A collection of some things to keep in mind and in perspective while role-playing.

It also benefits in how we treat others too – being a social activity, it kinda goes hand in hand. In the end, we are all people and we roleplay to have fun.

Many role-players want a “RP Buffet” of sorts – most RP servers are not and cannot be hot and cold running role-play 24/7. Others still want events and role-playing, but really never look, spark or think about how they can add to the role-playing of their server.

Granted, some players do not have time – and that is understandable. Just do your best with the time and opportunity you have. There’s some neat ideas and thoughts ahead that might help.

With that in mind, here’s the RP Stimulus Package:

Be “fearless” (but don’t be a jerk) in public areas when roleplaying.

Role-play where you are and as you can.

Inspire/foster role-playing both in the game and out.

Be a good example when RPing. Role-players AND Non-roleplayers do notice. You never know!

Get into your realm’s RP Community. Who are the “RP Community” anyway? That’s YOU and your fellow RPers out there.

Be a positive influence in your RP Community when you can.

Help and attend events if you are able to. If you cannot go, spread the word!

Try to help keep the RP immersion of the realm when able.

Support efforts by others wishing to help others RP.

Be supportive of new roleplayers.

Be kind, respectful and helpful to other roleplayers in your RP community.

Be kind, respectful and helpful to non-roleplayers, you never know when one of them may want to try to RP.

Stay away from being elitist or egotistical in talking to other roleplayers. There is a difference between being knowledgeable and being a jerk.

Be in character, even if you think no one’s watching. You may be surprised who is.

Remember when you started out and give fellow roleplayers some slack before playing the “YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!” card.

Remember that it’s not just about YOU. Share the stage.

Make connections both ICly and OOCly. More connections = more potential RP opportunites.

Understand it is ok to make a mistake, we all do it at some point.

Be open to explaining or helping others learn about roleplaying. If you don’t know an answer, nicely point them to someone or a site that can help.

Think before we “judge” or be a jerk to other players.

Spread the word about sites, forums, events and people that can help the RP community. If you won’t tell someone, who will?

Be flexible in your role-playing, there will be times when you may have to retcon or fudge things.

Respect the way other people roleplay. There’s no perfectly RIGHT way.

Remember that just because you may not see role-playing, it doesn’t mean no one is doing it.

Remember that your realm’s population will ebb and flow during the year (holidays, school, summer vacations, etc.)

Remember that the pixels have people behind them. And feelings too.

Roleplay outward and inward. Be out in the field where you are and allow others to enter roleplaying if it’s possible – bring people into your RP when you can.

Before putting a condemned sign on your realm, see what you can do to help revive RP. You never know unless you look, and in some cases – try.

Look for the RP, don’t wait for it to find you.

Don’t see any RP, make it! Random RP can work.

No events on your realm? Start one! You never know.

Remember that RP starts where YOU are.

Never give up.

And yeah, this is not a definitive list by any means – but it’s a bunch of helpful ideas to help bear out the storm when times RP-wise look bleak.

It's good to see this post again, Sulli. Going to pull out a few great points you made that applies to a lot of the roleplay-related posts on the ER forums lately. This applies to all involved, not one single party:

Be kind, respectful and helpful to other roleplayers in your RP community.

Be kind, respectful and helpful to non-roleplayers, you never know when one of them may want to try to RP.

Remember that just because you may not see role-playing, it doesn’t mean no one is doing it.

Remember that your realm’s population will ebb and flow during the year (holidays, school, summer vacations, etc.)

Remember that the pixels have people behind them. And feelings too.

Before putting a condemned sign on your realm, see what you can do to help revive RP.

You never know unless you look, and in some cases – try.

Don’t see any RP, make it!

Random RP can work.

No events on your realm? Start one! You never know.

Remember that RP starts where YOU are.

I invite a positive discussion with no blame gaming. There's been too much of that as of late on these forums.

These are dark times, there is no denying. Our world has perhaps faced no greater threat than it does today. But I say this to our citizenry. We, ever your servants, will continue to defend your liberty and repel the forces that seek to take it from you!

Seriously though, I applaud Sullivan with this post. This post gives the grass roots of Roleplay, the aspects that makes people enjoy the game and the portion of Roleplaying. A good community needs to be able to communicate with one another, needs to respect each other, and of course is a Fun community.

Alas I doubt believe the Park is coming back anytime soon to establish a 24/7 RP hotspot; but before as we all know. Roleplay can be made anywhere and it doesn't have to be a certain location. And perhaps I may be a hypocrite because I do RP quite at the "Same Usual, RP spot." but if the community steps up and in a positive and progressive manner, we can see real progression and build a better community on Earthen Ring.

And if it's anything, it's this close-knit community that has kept me here all these years.

These are dark times, there is no denying. Our world has perhaps faced no greater threat than it does today. But I say this to our citizenry. We, ever your servants, will continue to defend your liberty and repel the forces that seek to take it from you!

Seriously though, I applaud Sullivan with this post. This post gives the grass roots of Roleplay, the aspects that makes people enjoy the game and the portion of Roleplaying. A good community needs to be able to communicate with one another, needs to respect each other, and of course is a Fun community.

Alas I doubt believe the Park is coming back anytime soon to establish a 24/7 RP hotspot; but before as we all know. Roleplay can be made anywhere and it doesn't have to be a certain location. And perhaps I may be a hypocrite because I do RP quite at the "Same Usual, RP spot." but if the community steps up and in a positive and progressive manner, we can see real progression and build a better community on Earthen Ring.

And if it's anything, it's this close-knit community that has kept me here all these years.

This is an amazing thread, many helpful points on getting roleplay started.

I have applied some of these to my own roleplay woes and have found it to be pretty successful when it comes to finding RP.

I think being kind, respectful and helpful to other roleplayers in our community goes a long way, (totally stole that from the point, but it rings true)

Also, I was in a slump on one of my characters and it was suggested I write up an ongoing storyline for that character, I took that advice and now people want to read more of my writings.

That's a good feeling, a little positive reinforcement goes a long way.

That it does. That can be the double-edged sword with roleplay at times. We do a lot of things on stage, so to speak. It's a risk. Therefore, even the tiniest recognition or encouragement can go a long way. It also helps improve people's skills in the long run.

Then I rolled this Worgen here and it's been a blast from there. Much <3 to Sulley for putting this up! Let's give our RP a shot in the arm!

We adore our Captain Fuzzbutt. I mean, Admiral Ashford.

I encourage folks to pause from dailies and invite fellows for roleplay. To find roleplay means that someone took the initiative to start it. This is an old phrase that was once uttered here often: it's a roleplay server, not a roleplay service.

Up till recently, Theramore was a plentiful hotspot of activity till the Horde blew it up. I blame their resentment of our tables and chairs, since ingame design seems to withhold such things from all their roleplay areas. I'm certain all Garrosh wants is a seat that's comfier than his current warchief throne made of angry rocks.

Up till recently, Theramore was a plentiful hotspot of activity till the Horde blew it up. I blame their resentment of our tables and chairs, since ingame design seems to withhold such things from all their roleplay areas. I'm certain all Garrosh wants is a seat that's comfier than his current warchief throne made of angry rocks.

Do you know how hard it is to find a chair that doesn't break since I am..one of the bear creatures now?

Up till recently, Theramore was a plentiful hotspot of activity till the Horde blew it up. I blame their resentment of our tables and chairs, since ingame design seems to withhold such things from all their roleplay areas. I'm certain all Garrosh wants is a seat that's comfier than his current warchief throne made of angry rocks.

Do you know how hard it is to find a chair that doesn't break since I am..one of the bear creatures now?

Wait, you're a bear creature?And I just hugged you? D:

As for roleplay, I'll be pushing an Occupy _________ themed movement in the week or two weeks leading up to Harbor Markets. So expect some fun in the near future as the next market comes roaring into town.